Multiform Balance: Difference between revisions

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{{trope}}
{{trope}}
You've created a cool [[Henshin Hero]] -- your mentor character has [[Recruit Teenagers with Attitude|gotten a few young heroes with a proper demeanor]], and chosen the best one to bear the [[Transformation Trinket]]. But you want to spice it up a bit. You could start him/her out in one form and have him/her "graduate" to a [[Super Mode]] later -- maybe even stick in a [[Mid-Season Upgrade]] -- but you want a little extra kick from the start.
You've created a cool [[Henshin Hero]]—your mentor character has [[Recruit Teenagers with Attitude|gotten a few young heroes with a proper demeanor]], and chosen the best one to bear the [[Transformation Trinket]]. But you want to spice it up a bit. You could start him/her out in one form and have him/her "graduate" to a [[Super Mode]] later—maybe even stick in a [[Mid-Season Upgrade]]—but you want a little extra kick from the start.


Then it hits you. Give him/her multiple forms from day one! That's the ticket. But you'll need to make it so that one isn't an obvious [[Super Mode]] he should be using by default.
Then it hits you. Give him/her multiple forms from day one! That's the ticket. But you'll need to make it so that one isn't an obvious [[Super Mode]] he should be using by default.
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In essence, it's applying [[Competitive Balance]] between each of the character (or weapon)'s forms. In fact, the character types laid out in Competitive Balance or other power balancing tropes can be quite useful in describing the character's forms.
In essence, it's applying [[Competitive Balance]] between each of the character (or weapon)'s forms. In fact, the character types laid out in Competitive Balance or other power balancing tropes can be quite useful in describing the character's forms.


May overlapse with [[Evolution Power-Up]], especially if [[New Powers as the Plot Demands|new forms were gain/discover as the plot demand]], although [[Multiform Balance]] can switch back and forth. When [[Humongous Mecha]] use this trope, it's usually done with [[Mecha Expansion Pack]] or [[Transforming Mecha]].
May overlapse with [[Evolution Power-Up]], especially if [[New Powers as the Plot Demands|new forms were gain/discover as the plot demand]], although '''Multiform Balance''' can switch back and forth. When [[Humongous Mecha]] use this trope, it's usually done with [[Mecha Expansion Pack]] or [[Transforming Mecha]].
{{examples}}
{{examples}}


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** [[Kamen Rider Fourze|Fourze]]: [[Jack of All Stats]] ({{color|gray|Base}} States), [[Glass Cannon]] ({{color|gold|Elek}} States), [[Lightning Bruiser]] ({{color|red|Fire}} States), [[Mighty Glacier]] ({{color|red|Mag}}{{color|blue|net}} States), [[Super Mode]] ({{color|darkcyan|Cosmic}} States). The Winter movie adds a one time [[Fragile Speedster]] ({{color|orange|Rocket}} States).
** [[Kamen Rider Fourze|Fourze]]: [[Jack of All Stats]] ({{color|gray|Base}} States), [[Glass Cannon]] ({{color|gold|Elek}} States), [[Lightning Bruiser]] ({{color|red|Fire}} States), [[Mighty Glacier]] ({{color|red|Mag}}{{color|blue|net}} States), [[Super Mode]] ({{color|darkcyan|Cosmic}} States). The Winter movie adds a one time [[Fragile Speedster]] ({{color|orange|Rocket}} States).
* Not prominent as its rival franchise, but [[Ultra Series]] use this trope on few series.
* Not prominent as its rival franchise, but [[Ultra Series]] use this trope on few series.
** [[Ultraman Tiga|Tiga]]: [[Jack of All Stats]] ({{color|red|Multi}} {{color|blue|Type}}), [[Mighty Glacier]] ({{color|red|Power Type}}), [[Fragile Speedster]] ({{color|blue|Sky Type}}), [[Super Mode]] ({{color|gold|Glitter Tiga}}), [[Joke Character]] ({{color|black|Tiga Dark}}), [[Stone Wall]] ({{color|black|Tiga}} {{color|red|Tornado}}) and [[Master of None]] ({{color|black|T}}{{color|blue|iga}} {{color|red|Blast}}) <ref>The last three are really [[Evolution Power-Up]] represent how Tiga Dark slowly purging away darkness from himself.</ref>.
** [[Ultraman Tiga|Tiga]]: [[Jack of All Stats]] ({{color|red|Multi}} {{color|blue|Type}}), [[Mighty Glacier]] ({{color|red|Power Type}}), [[Fragile Speedster]] ({{color|blue|Sky Type}}), [[Super Mode]] ({{color|gold|Glitter Tiga}}), [[Joke Character]] ({{color|black|Tiga Dark}}), [[Stone Wall]] ({{color|black|Tiga}} {{color|red|Tornado}}) and [[Master of None]] ({{color|black|T}}{{color|blue|iga}} {{color|red|Blast}}).<ref>The last three are really [[Evolution Power-Up]] represent how Tiga Dark slowly purging away darkness from himself.</ref>
** [[Ultraman Dyna|Dyna]]: [[Jack of All Stats]] ({{color|red|Flash}} {{color|blue|Type}}), [[Mighty Glacier]] ({{color|red|Strong Type}}), [[Fragile Speedster]] ({{color|blue|Miracle Type}}).
** [[Ultraman Dyna|Dyna]]: [[Jack of All Stats]] ({{color|red|Flash}} {{color|blue|Type}}), [[Mighty Glacier]] ({{color|red|Strong Type}}), [[Fragile Speedster]] ({{color|blue|Miracle Type}}).
** [[Ultraman Cosmos|Cosmos]]: [[Squishy Wizard]]<ref>Focus on healing and purification</ref> ({{color|blue|Luna Mode}}), [[Jack of All Stats]] ({{color|red|Corona Mode}}), [[Lightning Bruiser]] ({{color|purple|Space Corona Mode}}), [[Super Mode]] ({{color|red|Eclipse}} {{color|blue|Mode}} and {{color|blue|Future}} {{color|red|Mode}}).
** [[Ultraman Cosmos|Cosmos]]: [[Squishy Wizard]]<ref>Focus on healing and purification</ref> ({{color|blue|Luna Mode}}), [[Jack of All Stats]] ({{color|red|Corona Mode}}), [[Lightning Bruiser]] ({{color|purple|Space Corona Mode}}), [[Super Mode]] ({{color|red|Eclipse}} {{color|blue|Mode}} and {{color|blue|Future}} {{color|red|Mode}}).
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** Battle Story and other variants give us the Liger Zero X (an Empire version designed for electronic warfare) and various packs for the Berserk Fury that replace its iconic "eggbeaters" with high-powered boosters (Sturm Fury), hybrid particle cannons (Jagd Fury), or a high-output reactor and missile pods (the Tyran series).
** Battle Story and other variants give us the Liger Zero X (an Empire version designed for electronic warfare) and various packs for the Berserk Fury that replace its iconic "eggbeaters" with high-powered boosters (Sturm Fury), hybrid particle cannons (Jagd Fury), or a high-output reactor and missile pods (the Tyran series).
** Also in ''Zoids Genesis'', [[Jack of All Stats|Murasame Liger]], [[Fragile Speedster|Hayate Liger]] and [[Mighty Glacier|Mugen Liger]].
** Also in ''Zoids Genesis'', [[Jack of All Stats|Murasame Liger]], [[Fragile Speedster|Hayate Liger]] and [[Mighty Glacier|Mugen Liger]].
* The [[Olympus Mons|Legendary]] ''[[Pokémon]]'' Deoxys has various forms with differing distributions of stats. Normal Forme is a [[Glass Cannon]], Attack Forme is [[The Same but More]], Defense Forme is a [[Stone Wall]], and Speed Forme is, despite the name, [[Jack of All Stats]]<ref>its stats are all decent and equal; it's called Speed Forme because the speed stat is still the highest</ref>.
* The [[Olympus Mons|Legendary]] ''[[Pokémon]]'' Deoxys has various forms with differing distributions of stats. Normal Forme is a [[Glass Cannon]], Attack Forme is [[The Same but More]], Defense Forme is a [[Stone Wall]], and Speed Forme is, despite the name, [[Jack of All Stats]].<ref>its stats are all decent and equal; it's called Speed Forme because the speed stat is still the highest</ref>
** A lesser example is Generation V's Darmanitan, whose normal form is a [[Lightning Bruiser]], but when certain Darmanitans' [[Hit Points]] go below half they automatically switch to Zen Mode, which is a [[Mighty Glacier]].
** A lesser example is Generation V's Darmanitan, whose normal form is a [[Lightning Bruiser]], but when certain Darmanitans' [[Hit Points]] go below half they automatically switch to Zen Mode, which is a [[Mighty Glacier]].
* ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam SEED]]'' has it in spades thanks to the abundance of [[Mecha Expansion Pack|Mecha Expansion Packs]]. The most common setup is Flight, Melee, and Ranged packs, as seen with the Strike, [[Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny|Impulse]], and [[Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Astray|Raigo]] Gundams, as well as the [[Mecha-Mooks|Dagger Series]]. ZAFT's ZAKU series has Gunner (long-range beam cannon), Blaze (missiles), and Slash (melee with short-range Gatlings) packs. This doesn't take into account the truly staggering number of unique and custom Strikers that show up in MSV and the manga, including the Gunbarrel, IWSP, Lightning, Divine, G-Flight, Jet, Doppelhorn, Nuclear Missile Multistriker...
* ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam SEED]]'' has it in spades thanks to the abundance of [[Mecha Expansion Pack]]s. The most common setup is Flight, Melee, and Ranged packs, as seen with the Strike, [[Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny|Impulse]], and [[Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Astray|Raigo]] Gundams, as well as the [[Mecha-Mooks|Dagger Series]]. ZAFT's ZAKU series has Gunner (long-range beam cannon), Blaze (missiles), and Slash (melee with short-range Gatlings) packs. This doesn't take into account the truly staggering number of unique and custom Strikers that show up in MSV and the manga, including the Gunbarrel, IWSP, Lightning, Divine, G-Flight, Jet, Doppelhorn, Nuclear Missile Multistriker...
* ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam AGE]]'' does this for the first generation of the eponymous mecha, with [[Jack of All Stats|Normal]], [[Mighty Glacier|Titus]], and [[Fragile Speedster|Spallow]] modes. Averted in the second generation though, where AGE-2 Double Bullet is nothing but an improvement over the original AGE.
* ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam AGE]]'' does this for the first generation of the eponymous mecha, with [[Jack of All Stats|Normal]], [[Mighty Glacier|Titus]], and [[Fragile Speedster|Spallow]] modes. Averted in the second generation though, where AGE-2 Double Bullet is nothing but an improvement over the original AGE.
** However, leaked images for the AGE-3 seems to return to form: the [[Jack of All Stats|Normal]], [[Mighty Glacier|Fortress]] and [[Lightning Bruiser|Orbital]].
** However, leaked images for the AGE-3 seems to return to form: the [[Jack of All Stats|Normal]], [[Mighty Glacier|Fortress]] and [[Lightning Bruiser|Orbital]].
* While [[Multiform Balance]] with [[Super Sentai]] (and [[Power Rangers]]) mecha is usually achieved through [[Mecha Expansion Pack|Mecha Expansion Packs]], a couple of Sentai mecha have multiple configurations that serve different purposes. [[Choujin Sentai Jetman]] and [[Mirai Sentai Timeranger]] have five jet mecha that can either combine into a larger jet or a humanoid robot. Additionally, Timeranger's TimeRobo had two modes: The close combat oriented TimeRobo Alpha and the agile ranged TimeRobo Beta.
* While '''Multiform Balance''' with [[Super Sentai]] (and [[Power Rangers]]) mecha is usually achieved through [[Mecha Expansion Pack]]s, a couple of Sentai mecha have multiple configurations that serve different purposes. [[Choujin Sentai Jetman]] and [[Mirai Sentai Timeranger]] have five jet mecha that can either combine into a larger jet or a humanoid robot. Additionally, Timeranger's TimeRobo had two modes: The close combat oriented TimeRobo Alpha and the agile ranged TimeRobo Beta.
** Impressively, TimeRobo multi-form balance extends to its [[Super Mode]] when combined with TimeShadow. Alpha and Beta each have their own combination.
** Impressively, TimeRobo multi-form balance extends to its [[Super Mode]] when combined with TimeShadow. Alpha and Beta each have their own combination.
* The [http://www.missmab.com/Demo/were.php Were] race in [[DMFA]]. They have three forms, human, [[Funny Animal|normal]] and 'primal' (animal), which basically form a Sliding Scale of Magicalness. As humans, they're immune to magic; in their normal form, they're [[Muggles]] with some minor bonuses; and as animals, their magical power is increased.
* The [http://www.missmab.com/Demo/were.php Were] race in [[DMFA]]. They have three forms, human, [[Funny Animal|normal]] and 'primal' (animal), which basically form a Sliding Scale of Magicalness. As humans, they're immune to magic; in their normal form, they're [[Muggles]] with some minor bonuses; and as animals, their magical power is increased.

Revision as of 14:57, 25 February 2015

You've created a cool Henshin Hero—your mentor character has gotten a few young heroes with a proper demeanor, and chosen the best one to bear the Transformation Trinket. But you want to spice it up a bit. You could start him/her out in one form and have him/her "graduate" to a Super Mode later—maybe even stick in a Mid-Season Upgrade—but you want a little extra kick from the start.

Then it hits you. Give him/her multiple forms from day one! That's the ticket. But you'll need to make it so that one isn't an obvious Super Mode he should be using by default.

No worries. Apply a little Multiform Balance.

Multiform Balance occurs when creators take care to make each multiple form of a Shape Shifter, such as a Henshin Hero, a Swiss Army Hero or a Morph Weapon-type Swiss Army Weapon, useful in its own way. The easiest way to do this is to make each one suited for a certain tactical situation or to use certain tactics. For example a werewolf doing a Partial Transformation to Wolf Man may not be able to talk, but can still use weapons and has greater strength than a man, but isn't as fast as a wolf.

In essence, it's applying Competitive Balance between each of the character (or weapon)'s forms. In fact, the character types laid out in Competitive Balance or other power balancing tropes can be quite useful in describing the character's forms.

May overlapse with Evolution Power-Up, especially if new forms were gain/discover as the plot demand, although Multiform Balance can switch back and forth. When Humongous Mecha use this trope, it's usually done with Mecha Expansion Pack or Transforming Mecha.

Examples of Multiform Balance include:


  1. ↑ Excels at underwater combat and has some heightened defense, but is generally not as combat-ready as other forms.
  2. ↑ The last three are really Evolution Power-Up represent how Tiga Dark slowly purging away darkness from himself.
  3. ↑ Focus on healing and purification
  4. ↑ its stats are all decent and equal; it's called Speed Forme because the speed stat is still the highest
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